Automatic time control for radios



Jan; 19, 1943. c. R. BOEMLE 2,309,040

AUTOMATIC TIME CONTROL FOR RADIOS Filed Nov. 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l flamal R'Boemle: INVEN TOR.

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ATI'ORNEYB Jan. 19, 1943. Q R. BC DEMLE AUTOMATIC TIME CONTROL FOR RADIOS Filed Nov. 17. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RAD/O myzaw o.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNKTED STATES PATENT OFFIE AUTOMATICTIME CONTROL FOR RADIOS Conrad R. Boemle, Evansville, Ind.

Application November 17, 1941, Serial No. 419,510

6 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in automatic time control for radios.

The object of the invention is to provide a control of this character operated by a clock mechanism, whereby a radio is automatically set into operation for a predetermined time during one revolution of the hour hand of a clock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control of this character in which the time setting mechanism is automatically restored to its normal inoperative position after the radio has been in operation the predetermined time, so that, upon the second revolution of the hour hand, the radio will not be set in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control which is simple in design, easily operated, cheap to construct and positive in operation to insure the operation of the radio for a predetermined length of time.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front View of my improved automatic control;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of several of the time setting contacts in difierent positions;

Figure 4 is a rear plan view, broken away, with the rear closing plate of the case removed;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View, broken away, showing the movable contact arm in engagement with the time setting contact and the resetting means;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatical view of the wiring for the control, electric clock and the radio.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents a casing having a removable rear closing plate 2, provided with an opening 3 through which extends the setting stem 3 of the electric clock 5. The casing is provided with a removable front plate 8, having a central opening I, in which is arranged the dial 8 of the clock, and the glass cover 9 therefor. The inner face of the front closing plate is provided with a series of studs supporting a circular plate H of insulating material and through which the shaft l2, of the electric clock, passes. The closing plate 6, around the dial of the clock, is provided with forty-eight openings, in which are arranged the contact time setting buttons I3 which extend inwardly and through openings in the plate II. The inner ends of the buttons are provided with two annular grooves M and I5, into which are snapped the spring arms it, carried by the rear face of the insulated plate H. By this structure, it will be seen that the buttons are held in either an inward or outward position, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The spring arms are connected to a ring-like plate i7, carried by the insulated plate H and has connected thereto an electric wire [8 leading to the service wires. The shaft I? of the electric clock carries the hour hand, and mounted on said shaft, and rotated therewith, is an arm it which is provided at its outer end with a spring contact member 20, adapted to engage the time setting buttons between the plates 6 and H. These buttons have the portion 2! insulated and when they are in their outward position, the spring contact member 26 is on the same and the circuit is broken.

Secured to the outer face of the insulated plate II is a ring-1ike member 22 connected by the wire 23 to the service Wire. This ring-like member surrounds the shaft l2 of the clock and is engaged by a spring brush 2% carried by the arm l9, whereby the contact is made. The arm I9 is of insulating material and connecting the brush 24 and the spring 26 is a wire 25. The push buttons I3, as heretofore stated, are normally in an outward position, with the brush 20 engaging the insulating material 2!, and the spring arms ID are in the peripheral groove Hi to hold the buttons in their outward position. The buttons on the inside of the insulating material 2i are provided with annular flanges 26, which are engaged by the spring member 21, carried by the outer end of the insulated rotating arm i9. By this structure, it will be seen that, when a button is forced inwardly and the contact 2d has engaged the button beyond the insulating material, the circuit is closed and the radio is set into operation. As the arm l9 r0- tates, the spring member 21 engages the flange 26, forcing the buttons outwardly, so that, in the next rotation of the arm IS, the spring contact will engage the insulation 2i on the button. It will be seen that, upon the second rotation of the arm [9, the radio will not be set into operation. Connected to the plate 24 is a wire 28 leading to the radio socket '23. The wire l8 leads to the electric clock and the return 30 from the clock is connected by a wire 3i to the radio socket. The service wires enter the case through an opening 32.

The wires l8 and 28 are connected to terminals 33 and 34 of the electric switch 35, which is operated by means of a button 36 extending through the case. The radio 31 is connected by the wires 38 and 39 to a plug 40, which is adapted to be placed in the socket 29, whereby the radio is connected to the circuit of the time controlled mechanism.

In operation, the desired button 13, representing a certain time, is pushed inwardly and the succeeding button is pushed inwardly, representing the period of time of fifteen minutes, in which the radio is to be played. If, however, it is desired to play the radio a longer period of time, a button can be pushed representing thirty, fortyfive minutes, or any length of time, each succeeding button representing fifteen minutes. The movement of the button inwardly brings the spring arm 2:) into contact with the portion thereof which is not insulated; and, by means of the brush 24 engaging the plate 22, the circuit is closed through the wire 2-3. The spring arms 16 are at all times in electrical contact with the buttons. These arms are carried by the plate I9, which in turn is connected by the wire l3 to the switch 35. The arm i9, as is understood, is carried by the hour shaft of the clock After the spring contact 23 has passed from the button pressed inwardly, the spring member 27 engages the annular flange 25, carried by the button, and forces the same outwardly bringing the spring arm 25 into engagement with the insulation 2! and the circuit is broken when the radio is stopped.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A radio time control, comprising a casing, a clock arran ed therein, push buttons arranged around the dial of the clock and representing a period of time, an carried by the hour hand shaft for engaging an insulated portion of the push buttons, means for moving the push buttons to bring the arm on of the insulated portion of the buttons to complete the circuit, and automatic means carried by the arm for returning the buttons to their nc-rnal positions after the hour hand shaft has passed the inwardly pressed buttons.

2. A radio time control, comprising a casing, a clock arranged the em, push buttons arranged around the dial of the clock and representing a period of time, an carried by the hour hand shaft and having a spring arm normally engaging an insulated portion of the butto means whereby said buttons may be moved inwardly to complete the circuit through the spr ng arm, individual spring contacts engaging the push buttons for holding them in their adjusted positions, and a spring arm carried by the arm on the hour hand shaft for engaging the buttons and returning them to their normal outward positions after the spring contact has passed the button or buttons.

3. A radio time control, comprising a casing, a clock arranged therein, push buttons arranged around the dial of the clock and representing a period of time, an arm carried by the hour hand shaft, a spring contact carried by the outer end of the arm and normally engaging an insulated portion of the individual button, spring contacts engaging the inner ends of the buttons and adapt ed to enter grooves in the periphery thereof for holding the buttons in their adjusted positions, collars carried by the buttons, and a spring member carried by the arm and engaging the collars for forcing the buttons outwardly after the spring contact has passed over the button or buttons.

4. A radio time control, comprising a casing, a clock arranged therein, push buttons arranged around the dial of the clock and representing a period of time, an arm carried by the hour hand shaft, a ring-like contact plate surrounding the hour hand shaft, a spring brush carried by the arm and engaging the ring, a spring contact carried by the outer end of the arm and normally engaging an insulated portion of the individual button, a spring contact engaging the inner end of each button and adapted to enter grooves in the periphery thereof for holding the same in their adjusted positions, a ring carrying said spring contacts, an electrical connection for said ring, collars carried by the buttons, and a spring member carried by the arm and engaging the collars for forcing the buttons outwardly after the spring contact has passed over the buttons.

5. A radio time control, comprising a casing, a clock arranged therein, push buttons arranged around the dial of the clock and representing a period of time, an arm carried by the hour hand shaft, a ring-like contact plate surrounding the hour hand shaft, a spring brush carried by the inner end of the arm and engaging the ring-like contact, a spring contact carried by the outer end of the rm and normally engaging an insulated portion of the individual button, a ring-like contact at the inner ends of the buttons, spring contacts carried by said ring and adapted to enter grooves in the periphery thereof for holding the same in their adjusted positions, collars carried by the buttons, and a bowed spring member carried by the arm, the central portion of which is adapted to engage a collar on the button for forcing the same outwardly after the spring contact has passed over the same.

6. A radio time control, comprising a casing, a clock arranged therein, push buttons arranged around the dial of the clock and representing a period of time, an arm carried by the hour hand shaft for engaging an insulated portion of the push buttons, means for moving the push buttons to bring the arm off of the insulated portion of the buttons to complete the circuit, and a cam means carried by the arm for engaging the buttons and returning them to their normal positions after the hour hand shaft has passed the inwardly pressed buttons.

CONRAD R. BOEMLE. 

